There is no perfect dishwasher, but if you are looking for one that has more cycle options than any other dishwasher you have ever used or even read about, then we would recommend the Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher with IQ Touch Controls. With its dynamic wash and dry options combined with exceptional features and efficiency, this best dishwasher comes with a filter that needs to be cleaned manually but, nevertheless, its modern design and multi-functionality have contributed in making it the best pick on our list of the best dishwasher.
Top Pick: Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher with IQ Touch Controls
The Electrolux EI24ID50QS Dishwasher is well-supported by a certification from Energy Star due to some outstanding eco-friendly wash and dry features. This best energy-efficient dishwasher also has the ability to elongate cycle times, just like other best dishwashers on our list, by using the same water while washing and then draining it all out completely in order to refill fresh water for the rinsing process. Depending on the types of dishes that you want to wash, this best dishwasher with 3 racks and 3 spray arms provides multiple choices for washing, such as auto-wash, eco-wash, delicate, heavy, normal, and perfect stemware along with rinse-only cycle options. Every best dishwasher like the Electrolux EI24ID50QS has a remarkably efficient target wash zone where you can place your extremely messy dishes and bottles for a more thorough wash. Despite the unit’s outstanding heated dry feature, we decided to let the dishes dry out in a natural environment in order to save energy.
If you’re looking for an upgrade, then we would recommend the Bosch SHX7PT55UC Stainless Steel Dishwasher. This best dishwasher is one of the most silent units we have worked with, which explains why we chose it to honor our step-up pick category. In fact, this best dishwasher works so silently that the manufacturer thought it best to install a floor beam that reveals the cycle status and remaining time onto the floor while it’s functioning. The Bosch SHX7PT55UC Stainless Steel Dishwasher is packed with the perfect six wash cycles (heavy auto, delicate, normal, express, glass, and rinse) and another set of five wash options. Constructed with three versatile racks, this best dishwasher can accommodate up to 15 place settings into a single load. We were quite impressed with the unit’s RackMatic functionality found on the two out of three racks. This special feature gives you the wonderful opportunity to change the height levels of the racks offering nine different positions. We were expecting a tad more from this best dishwasher in terms of eco-friendly features and capabilities but were quite disappointed when we found out that it doesn’t have any such energy-efficient wash or dry options. But, nevertheless, this high-priced model will cost you not much for energy, annually. And with a lifetime and 5-year warranty on the racks plus electronics and the tub plus door liner respectively, you and the environment will definitely treasure this best dishwasher for many years to come.
Not everyone really needs to spend so lavishly on the best dishwasher. Whoever said that the most expensive products are the only best products on the market obviously didn’t even try using a low-priced one. To make our point clear, we are going to tell you how the EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher is a great little unit for the price. As its name suggests, this best dishwasher is perfect for smaller spaces, but nevertheless, it is well-constructed to be able to hold 8 place settings. This best energy-efficient dishwasher may not have the high capability of a heavy-duty dishwasher but that doesn’t stop it from flawlessly cleaning the dishes. It is a very basic unit with basic features such as six traditional cycles, light indicator, buzzer, automatic shut-off, and two smooth-gliding racks that work quite efficiently, you’d be surprised! Although the door of this best dishwasher has a very lightweight construction, making it susceptible to damage so handle it with care. We also noticed that after each cycle, there is some water in the bottom that doesn’t get drained out. But, apart from these two really insignificant errors, we really enjoyed working with this energy-efficient and super-affordable best dishwasher.
What you should know before reading on
It goes without saying that a dishwasher is not an essential home appliance but, nevertheless, many homeowners prefer using a dishwasher instead of manually washing and drying each and every dish in order to not only save effort and time but also water and power. Investing in the best energy-efficient dishwasher can lower the cost of your utility bills, contrary to popular belief, as it uses the appropriate amount of water required to effectively clean the dishes placed in the unit, nothing more and nothing less. And even if you’re not such an environment enthusiast, the best dishwasher ends up doing the majority of your kitchen work simply by washing and drying the many dishes that you otherwise feel lazy to clean up. There is a wide variety of best dishwashers to choose from depending on your preferences, such as home d’cor, budget, purpose, features, warranty advantage, etc. So make sure that you figure out why you want to buy the best dishwasher and then weight out all your options in order to select the best dishwasher that will give you your money’s worth in the long run.
What to look for in the best dishwasher
While there are many factors to take into consideration while buying the best dishwasher, we’ve listed some of the most important ones in order to make it easy for you to identify the good dishwashers from the bad ones.
Energy Efficiency
The more energy-efficient your best dishwasher is, the more money you will be able to save, which can otherwise shoot up to more than the original price of the unit. So make sure that your best dishwasher is certified by Energy Star and is well-equipped with Eco settings if you wish to keep your annual utility costs in check while also being a responsible and environment-friendly individual on the planet. Upon reviewing many units, our testers concluded that the average run cycle should be between 76 mins and 130 mins.
Cleaning Privileges
The cleaning capability and versatility of the best dishwashers depend on the various cleaning options provided by the unit. So after carrying out thorough tests and upon studying many different features and cleaning choices on many different kinds of best dishwashers, we have narrowed down certain important cleaning options that highly impact the efficiency of this useful home appliance:
‘ 6 to 9 cycles.
‘ Targeted wash zones.
‘ NSF-certified.
‘ Eco-friendly wash cycles.
‘ Variable sprayer arm pressure.
‘ Quick cycles and rinse-only options.
‘ Steam washing and fan-drying, although these elements were less commonly found in the best dishwashers that we tested so far.
Load Resilience
Flexibility is one important factor that you must take into account while buying the best dishwasher. And as far as these units are concerned, flexibility is not found in only a single component but in a number of features, such as:
‘ Place setting capacity, which should be from 10 to 16 to accommodate dishes at full capacity.
‘ Number of racks ‘ 3.
‘ Adjustable racks.
‘ Foldable tines.
How we tested
After expertly plumbing and running in the best dishwasher, we began our testing process. Ideally, our testers loaded every single unit with the typical amount of dishes, including wine glasses and plastic containers. As the Normal and Eco cycles are used more regularly than the others, we carried out our experiments on these two cycles only.
Factors that we measured:
‘ Amount of water used.
‘ Power.
‘ Total time taken to complete a single cycle.
‘ Noise level.
The first-level test was performed to wash off dried-on wine at the bottom of wine glasses. The goal was to flawlessly wash away all the leftover wine stains from the bottom of the wine glasses, leaving them with a good shine and no wine marks at all.
The second-level test was carried out to remove dried-on wheat cereal that had been on the dish for almost a day. The goal here was to wash it away without having to rewash the dish one more time in order for it to come out all clean and dry.
The last and the most heavy-duty experiment was performed to remove dried-on egg and spinach marks that had been on the dish for a little over 24 hours. The goal here was obviously not to achieve a super clean, spotless, and shiny dish (no dishwasher can ever do that) but to figure out the extent to which these stains had come off. This helped us decide how effectively that particular best dishwasher worked and how it outperformed the others on our list of the best dishwasher.
Top Pick
Top Pick: Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher with IQ Touch Controls
With the amount of new dishwashers being manufactured every single year, the Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher with IQ Touch Controls beats all so far. Upon reviewing many best dishwashers on the market, our team was quite impressed with this particular unit’s features, such as circular arm spray, adjustable vinyl stemware clips, bottle washer jets, and interior lights combined with its tough battery. And these features contributed a great deal in cleaning up the dishes pretty neatly. Our testers noticed that the Eco cycle, which uses less power and water, took a comparatively longer time to complete the process than the auto, normal, heavy, fast, upper, stemware, and rinse cycles. In order to suit your needs, this best dishwasher can be set up with your personal cycle-plus-wash combination if the other 8 cycles don’t seem to fit your particular washing requirements.
The Normal cycle option was put through various tests as it is the one that is used more often and our testers were quite impressed with its performance. And the Fast cycle also performed remarkably well, completing the whole process in less than 30 minutes. Although, with the Fast cycle, we did spot a few stains on dishes that were kept overnight, which proved that this best dishwasher’s Fast cycle is capable of flawlessly cleaning out only medium to light stains.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Our team of testers reviewed many best dishwashers on the market and found no other unit as packed with features and capabilities as the Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher, despite its flaws. This best dishwasher is not equipped with a hard-food disposer, which made cleaning the unit manually less convenient. We also had to shake a few dishes in order to get them dry after taking them out of the unit, which highlights the slight inefficiency of the Jet Dry feature. We also faced a few trivial issues with the controls as well. But the Electrolux EI24ID50QS gives us many more reasons to overlook these defects. This best dishwasher offers more options and more features than any other best dishwasher that we’ve tested, so it’s a pretty exclusive product manufactured by a company that provides a remarkable warranty package, which includes a five-year warranty for the unit’s racks and electronics whereas the tub and door liner are well-guarded with a lifetime warranty. So with the reasonable price tag of this best dishwasher and its immaculate cleaning capability, we easily decided to overlook the tiny faults and soon even forget about them, and we can assure you that you will too.
Our step-up pick
Bosch SHX7PT55UC Stainless Steel Dishwasher
Our research team has tested many different kinds of best dishwashers manufactured with modern and advanced technology. And for the first time, it has not been drastically let down with even a single feature while testing this best dishwasher. This upgraded version of the best dishwasher comes with a TimeLight; a unique ingredient that projects the remaining time of the cycle onto the floor so you know when the unit is running. Upon examining other Bosch models, we realized that you can just as easily buy one that costs you lesser money, but you will not be able to enjoy the kind of accessible luxury that this best dishwasher provides with those other Bosch units.
Three effortlessly efficient and smooth gliding racks, three plastic clips, and a detachable middle rack are some of the exclusive features that make this best dishwasher more flexible, workable and convenient to use. The Bosch SHX7PT55UC Stainless Steel Dishwasher has standard six wash cycles, as any other best dishwasher on our list. The only problem that you might come across is redeposit, which means that a particular stain from one dish will get washed off only to get stuck onto the next one. But this only happens when you use the Normal cycle. We did not face this issue when we used the Heavy cycle option, as it has the ability to eliminate spinach stains as well. We can quite confidently tell you that our step-pick is a pretty affordable luxurious pick, which makes this best dishwasher a reasonable purchase that comes super-packed with a high-class design and an efficiently smooth and quiet working mechanism that you will appreciate in your home.
Our budget-friendly pick
EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher
If you prefer perfect, basic functionalities with minimal cost then the EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher is the unit for you. This best dishwasher can fit into tiny spaces with six conventional wash cycle options. We were quite impressed when we found out that this best dishwasher has the ability to ‘dish’ up to 8 place settings, so it’s not like the quality and performance get compromised. You will be surprised to know that this affordable best dishwasher offers heated wash and dry cycles as well.
Our testers were able to easily clean and maintain the EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher. The unit has two slide-out racks that can be packed with dishes at full capacity and will still give you 100% results. Our research team tested many low-priced and small-sized dishwashers and discovered that most of them were not built-in versions, unlike the EdgeStar model. This best dishwasher also has a design that is comparatively better and less bulky than other dishwashers created for small spaces. One tiny little drawback that we simply abhorred in this best dishwasher is the fact that our testers had to manually shut it down at the end of every cycle. Even though it seems like a second’s job, we would have preferred if we didn’t have to carry it out after every single cycle.
Best portable dishwasher
SPT SD-9241SS Energy Star Portable Dishwasher
This best portable dishwasher saves you the effort of constantly hooking it up to the sink, running the hose all the way into the sink, and loading and unloading it every single night. Instead, the SPT SD-9241SS Energy Star Portable Dishwasher can be easily placed beside your sink to save you all that time and energy. So no permanent installation or direct plumbing is required. In order to carry out a smooth and timely operation, this best dishwasher is well-equipped with a Rinse Aid Warning Indicator and refill reminder along with a time delay feature. Our testers noticed that this best dishwasher, with traditional six wash programs and 8 place settings, uses the basic amount of water to produce spotless results, quite literally. The only major drawback; we had to dry the dishes manually as this best dishwasher doesn’t do that job for you. Despite the unfortunate absence of such a feature, if there’s any best dishwasher on casters, then it’s this SPT unit for sure.
Best Dishwasher for the Money
Danby DDW1899WP-1 Portable Dishwasher
A small-priced unit created for small-sized kitchens, the Danby DDW1899WP-1 Portable Dishwasher is regarded as the most innovative and superior quality product for its portable functionality. There are several features built in this little unit that didn’t fail to impress us. The thing about basic models is that they provide the best user experience by letting the operator navigate through the settings quite easily, unlike the best complex and heavy-duty dishwashers. We found the quick rinse wash cycle to be the most effective, although the other 5 were also quite up to the mark, but the quick rinse option in particular produced shinier-looking glasses. This best dishwasher has an efficient built-in water softener mechanism that provides the right kind of rinse your dishes require. Comparatively, there are a few compromises that you will have to make with this best dishwasher but it is a remarkable bargain in terms of cleaning and noise level.
Best Rated Dishwasher
GE GSC3500DWW White Portable Dishwasher
We were pretty excited to test a GE product as the company has a reputation of creating high-quality dishwashers with an even higher-rated and reliable service. And with the portable category, we finally got the opportunity to list the GE GSC3500DWW White Portable Dishwasher as one of our best dishwashers. This unit has a remarkable 12 place setting capability, as opposed to 8 on other best portable dishwashers. But it has only five wash cycle options, which is not such a big deal as this best dishwasher is equipped with exclusive Pots and Pans cycle along with Power Scrub Wash mechanism that makes up for the absence of the traditional six wash cycles. The one feature that is not built in even our best pick is offered in this best portable dishwasher; the hard-food dispenser. This valuable feature cleans out all the food remains in order to flawlessly wash the dishes. Additionally, this GE model has a Woodgrain laminate top that adds durability to the unit as well.
Best expensive dishwasher
Dacor RDW24S Stainless Steel Built-In Dishwasher
If your ultimate goal is to purchase not only the best dishwasher but also the most extravagantly priced and unbeatable quality unit with a long list of special features, then we’re pleased to tell you that you’re in the right place. The luxurious Dacor RDW24S Stainless Steel Built-In Dishwasher is constructed with remarkable fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and is Energy Star certified. But that’s not the reason why you’re paying such a steep price for this best dishwasher. The unit is also packed with Seven-Part Pure Clean system that lets you customize and create your own setting with seven different wash zones and six wash cycles. It also comes with an exceptional Three-Part PureFiltration System that follows three extensive steps to thoroughly clean the toughest stain-stricken dishes. With over 14 place setting capacity, EcoDry option, silent operation, and electronic control lock, to name a few, this best dishwasher should have been more extravagantly priced than it already is.
Best Integrated Dishwasher
Fisher Paykel DD24DDFTX7 Semi-Integrated Dishwasher
A semi-integrated dishwasher is built with control panels located on the top of the unit, as opposed to the integrated versions where the controls are built into the unit, with the rest of it covered by the kitchen cabinetry. Such a smart design allows the operator to use the control panel without wasting time by halting the operation to open the door in order to access the control panel. A pretty expensive option, the Fisher Paykel DD24DDFTX7 Semi-Integrated Dishwasher is the first drawer dishwasher that we tested that required the least amount of bending. This best dishwasher has nine wash cycles that are packed with the very first flow-through detergent dispenser along with 163 degrees Fahrenheit sanitizing temperature that contribute to the unit’s unbeatable high-class efficiency. The energy-efficient dishwasher was able to support comparatively larger dishes on the top and bottom drawers with the help of flexible racks and pitch adjustable tines. This fancy little thing also comes with a wireless remote and super-flexible door, so now you can safely talk about making the most out of this best dishwasher.
Best Dishwasher Brand
Whirlpool WDF520PADM Built-In Stainless Dishwasher
Whirlpool manufactures some of the most expensive and the best dishwashers in the world. Although this Whirlpool WDF520PADM Built-In Stainless Dishwasher is the first Whirlpool product on our list, we still consider this brand to be one of the most desirable home appliance companies ever. This best dishwasher is well-constructed with durable stainless steel and is protected with a corrosion and rust-proof powder to ensure added durability. Its Energy Star certification adds credibility to the unit’s eco-friendly efficiency. We found the control panel to be the easiest to work with so far and this best dishwasher provides 14 different customizable settings to suit your washing and drying requirements. The feature that took us by surprise in this best dishwasher is its advanced soil sensor, which can smartly find out the load size of the dishes and also determine the degree of dirt as well in order to adjust to the most suitable wash setting. We didn’t even have to soak the dishes before loading them all into the appliance. The two most striking components; silent working mechanism and adjustable silverware tray that can be easily hung on the plastic tabs just outside the bottom rack or not, the choice is entirely yours.
Other best options
Samsung DW80H9970US Stainless Steel Fully Integrated Dishwasher
As always, Samsung has taken the game to a whole new level with its Chef Collection model, the Samsung DW80H9970US Stainless Steel Fully Integrated Dishwasher. Our testers marked that this best dishwasher is equipped with the conventional rotating lower spray arm along with an exclusive feature, an innovative reflector bar that helps to clean the dishes more thoroughly. Although this best dishwasher is not an ideal choice if you wish to purchase an energy-efficient unit due to its comparatively longer cycles but, nevertheless, it works silently, is extremely convenient to use with a wash sequence display built up in the front, which is only visible when the appliance is running. Advanced technology and manufacturing at Samsung go hand in hand. We were quite impressed with this best dishwasher’s top flatware tray that gave us the freedom to randomly place the soiled dishes wherever we like. With 15 place settings and six wash cycles, this best dishwasher offers an exceptional cleaning and drying performance with maximum and flexible rack capacity.
GE PDT750SSFSS Stainless Steel Fully Integrated Dishwasher
We had decided to select this best dishwasher as our top pick but dropped it out for some unfortunate reasons. This best dishwasher has the kind of superior qualities that one would expect from our best picks. For one, the GE PDT750SSFSS Stainless Steel Fully Integrated Dishwasher provides comparatively more wash cycles and drying options. We used this to our advantage by pairing the eWash cycle of this best dishwasher with the power-dry option. It’s like an energy efficient machine on steroids. It is built to accommodate 15 place settings with flexible racks and adjustable tines. This best dishwasher has a highly useful soil sensor that we simply loved. Depending on how dirty the water is, this soil sensor accordingly adjusts the length of the cycle, which results in using the optimal amount of resources to clean your dishes. One drawback that might affect your buying decision is the fact that this best dishwasher doesn’t have a long-term warranty, unlike most best dishwashers on the market.
Bosch 800 Series SHX68T55UC Fully Integrated Built-In Dishwasher
Just because this best dishwasher doesn’t come with a child-lock, we were not going to eliminate it from our list of the best dishwasher. The Bosch 800 Series SHX68T55UC Fully Integrated Built-In Dishwasher has some exceptionally advanced and energy efficient features that we couldn’t simply dismiss just because of one flaw. This best dishwasher is created with six wash cycles and five extra wash options that include the remarkable sanitation wash option. Now this feature makes use of a high-temp to ensure that your soiled dishes are thoroughly sanitized. Well-guarded with a pretty beneficial warranty, this best dishwasher did not fail to surprise us with its quiet working mechanism and flexible components, such as adjustable racks and tines. It provides the ultimate competition to the other best dishwashers on our list and is definitely worth your consideration.
Wrapping it up
Overall, all our models mentioned on this list of the best dishwasher rank comparatively higher in features, performance, and ratings than the rest of the appliances manufactured so far. Keeping all the elements aside, the best dishwasher ought to make your soiled and stained dishes clean and sparkly, with or without exclusive features. The most important job of thoroughly cleaning the dishes without your involvement is what the best dishwasher should be able to do. So if you’re looking for the best of the best that is also an all-rounder in every aspect, the Electrolux EI24ID50QS Built-In Dishwasher with IQ Touch Controls is simply perfect for you. But if you think you can dial it down a little in order to stick to your tight budget, then the best option in that category so far is the EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher, while the upgrade is the Bosch SHX7PT55UC Stainless Steel Dishwasher that provides the ultimate luxurious experience.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.